Support



JuneZS, 1932- B. s. GALLAGHER ET AL 1,354,814

SUPPORT Filed July 50. 1930 INVENTORS BERNARD 5. 64A LAG/m MAL/AM J. fMMo/vs.

BY 6% f ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1932 -UNITED STATES PATENT JFFICE I 'BERNABD s. GALLAGHER, or PIEDMONT, AND WILLIAM J. nnnvroivs, or ALAMEDA, I CALIFORNIA v SUPPORT Application filed July 30, 1930. Serial N0. 471,700.

This invention resides in the provision of novel and comparatively inexpensive supporting structure which may be readily and easily arranged to serve in a particularly efii- 5 cient manner as a column, standard post, supporting base, stand, or bracket for purposes of providing a stool or chair seat support, a flag pole, a supporting column for shelves, platforms and the like, an electric light standard, or pole, or a sign post, and for many other similar purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide a supporting structure of the character described which may be quickly, easily and inis expensively made from a small quantity of sheet or strap metal and will be light as to weight and compact, yet of great strength and durability and easily adapted to-the many uses to which it may be put.

HI A further object is to provide a structure such as described which may be made from a single piece of sheet or strap metal andwith comparatively few formingjoperations.

Another object is to provide a support of the character described which comprises a novel, well balanced, symmetrical base structure and column portion of unusual strength in consideration of lightness, and simplicity of construction of such parts, due to the man- YW ner of bending the structure and the relative positions and angular formation of the parts thereof.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of one.

embodiment of the support of our invention showing the same employed as the stand of a stool.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 33 of Figure 1. I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the blank from which the structure of our inventionis formed, showing in full lines the slits or cuts '55 made therein, the fold or bend lines being dotted. Y i Figure 5 is a side elevation of the support of our invention as when employed to support a flag pole.

Figure 6 is'a top plan view of a modified form of the support of our invention.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 6.

As particularly shown in the accompanying drawing, one form of our supporting structure invention is seen to comprise a column or body portion 1, supporting legs 2 extending divergently downward from said column portion, and a base structure 3 disposed substantially horizontally and between said legs to provide with the latter a strong and effective ground or floor engaging base.

As shown in Figure 1 the column portion is hollow and serves as a socket for a stem 5 of a stool seat 6 whereby to provide in simple form a stool which will be light, strong and particularly useful in canneries, workshops, factories and the like. The seat 6 may be held in different vertically adjusted positions by means of a pin 7 arranged to be inserted through one of the several transverse openings 8 in the stem 5, said pin resting on an annular member 9 fixed to theupper end of the column 1.

As shown in Figure 5 the supporting device or stand of our invention may be used as a bracket for supporting a flag pole 10 with a flag 11 thereon. In this particular use the base '3 is aiiixed in any suitable manner to the wall 12 with the legs 2 and column 3 extending horizontally outward from said wall. The flag pole 10 is socketed in the hollow column portion 1 and may if necessary be secured thereto with any suitable means which it is thought unnecessary to show.

While we have shown but two uses of our supporting device, it is obvious that such a device may be used advantageously for many other purposes.

It is important to note that our supporting structure may be easily and cheaply made from a single piece of small gauge sheet or strap metal. A blank 14 of such metal is clearly shown in Figure 1 wherein it is noted that such strip or piece of metal is in the form of an elongated or rectangular plate having a scalloped or notched end edge 15.

In forming the blank the same is slit or cut as indicated by the full lines 16 whereby to define the portions which comprise the legs 2 and base 3, there being three such legs and three base pieces. The portions which form the legs are bent longitudinally along the points indicated by the dotted lines 17 whereby the legs will be substantially V shaped in cross section and therefore made stronger than if left flat. The portions which form the base pieces 3 are bent relative to the legs at the points indicated by the dotted lines 18 and to an extent such that when the leg portions are bent at the points indicated by the dotted lines 19 whereby to form the tripod efl'ect thereof, said portions 3 will be substantially horizontally disposed. to rest flat on the floor or ground. With the blank thus cut and bent, the blank is folded longitudinally at the points indicated by the dotted lines 20 in Figure 4 to define the hollow column 1 which is triangular in form. This folding is effected so as to bring the edges of the plate or blank together and said meeting edges are then welded together as at 21. Thus the column 2 in triangular hollow form, is light as to weight, yet strong and also provides a socket for a pole or the like as aforementioned. When folding the blank to provide the body or column portion 1 the base portions 3 are brought with their ends in abutting coplanar relation at a point in line with the longitudinal axis of the column portion 1 and thus the base structure is tripodal and provides for a steady supporting of the stand.

It will now be clear that the supporting device of our invention may be made from a single narrow plate of sheet or strap metal and when completed comprises a one piece unit of great strength and compactness and consisting of but few parts. The triangular form of the column 1 and the V shaped cross section of the legs 2, with the lateral feet formed integral with the legs and welded together at their ends, provide a stand structure which will not be subject to ready distortion or deformation under comparatively heavy loads.

It should be noted that the triple piece base portion 3 affords a secure and lasting anchorage when embedded in a concrete base, and also permits of an easy fastening thereof to a supporting surface. Furthermore the tripod leg arrangement permits of the base being set up close to a work bench or machine without providing any obstruction for the feet of the user when employed as a part of a stool or when used in some other capacity where such a set up is desirable.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7 the upper end of the body or column portion 1 may be split to provide lateral attaching ears 22 which may have a seat or shelf as indicated at 22 readily secured thereto or may be used in place of the annular plate 9 shown in Figure 1.

tending divergently from one end of said column portion, and feet formed integral with the outer ends of and extending inwardly from said legs, and said legs being bent longitudinally thereof to provide them with a substantial V shape in cross section.

2. A support comprised of a single blank of sheet metal cut and folded to define a supporting column portion of triangular cross section, legs integral with and extending divergently from one end of said column portion, and feet formed integral with the outer ends of and extending inwardly from said legs, and welded together at the free ends thereof.

3. A support comprised of a single rec tangular blank of sheet metal cut and bent to form a tubular supporting column portion of angular form in cross section, legs formed integral with and extending divergently from one end of said column portion, and feet formed integral with the outer ends of said legs and bent laterally thereof to extend at right angles to said column portion and being joined to one another at their free ends.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands at Oakland, California, this 25th day of July, 1930.

BERNARD S. GALLAGHER. WILLIAM J. EMMONS. 

